Page 49 of The Hard Hitter

“Right.”

“I kind of told her we were a couple. I know we’re not, and we weren’t supposed to say anything, but I didn’t like the things she was saying about you.”

“What was she saying?” she asks, not at all surprised to hear her neighbor was talking about her. It bothers me that she might be used to that kind of thing. Girls can be so mean, and I want my daughter to grow up strong and with empathy for others. I want her to be like Sam.

“Basically that she knew you ‘well enough’.” I pause to do air quotes around the words. “But I have no idea what she’s talking about. I only know she wasn’t being kind.”

“I have no idea either.”

“Maybe they’re threatened by the pretty single girl who moved in.”

I laugh at that. “Doubtful.”

“Maybe they’re worried you’re going to steal their husbands. Have a secret, dirty affair.”

“That’s what I have you for,” she says, taking a long lick of her chocolate. “Although it’s not much of a secret anymore. Quinn’s fully aware of our secret.”

“That means everyone knows. She’s never been good at secrets.”

“Oh well. My mother always said if others were talking about me, it meant they were leaving someone else alone.”

“That’s a good way to think about it. I’ll be sure to give Daisy the advice when the time comes.”

I wave to Daisy again when she calls out to me and Sam reaches into her purse to grab her ringing phone. She slides her finger across the screen.

“Hey Mom,” she says.

I can’t hear what her mother is saying to her—I only know by the whitening of Sam’s face, something is very terribly wrong.

15

Sam

I jump to my feet and glance at Zander, who’s standing up beside me, deep concern etched on his handsome face. He touches my elbow, gives it a little squeeze to let me know he’s there for me, and he can’t know how much I appreciate that.

I listen to my mother and try not to panic. She’s assuring me Dad is okay, but until I see him myself, I won’t stop stressing.

I end the call and Zander is waiting for me to talk. “Dad was in a car accident,” I blurt out. “He’s at General Hospital. Mom is with him but he has to go in to surgery. His arm or shoulder is messed up. I need to go.”

“I’ll take you,” he says without hesitation.

I pause for a second. We’re closer to the hospital than to my place, so going back to get my own car will take time I don’t want to waste. “Okay, you can drop me off,” I say. Ill figure out how to get home later, once I’ve seen my dad.

“Daisy, time to go,” Zander calls out, his voice tight.

I take a step, and my knees go weak.

“Whoa,” Zander says, and captures me. I’m obviously more worked up than I thought.

Daisy comes skipping over, but when she sees me, her face drops. “What’s wrong?”

“My father is hurt,” I say. “I need to go check on him.”

We make our way back to the car, and Zander’s knuckles are white on the steering wheel as he moves through late-Friday traffic. We reach the hospital, and I open the door.

“Thanks,” I say. “I’ll text you later to let you know how he’s doing.”

Before he can say anything, I close the door and hurry inside. I go to information, find out where my dad is, and take the elevator to the fourth floor. Mom is in the waiting room when I arrive.

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